Orleans County Seeks Federal Funding for Albion Projects

Three Orleans County legislators pressed federal representatives for funding on local priorities during the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. this week.

Chairman Lynne Johnson, Legislator Merle "Skip" Draper and Legislator John Fitzak met with staff from the offices of Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney and USDA representatives. They thanked federal officials for previously secured funding for an Emergency Management Operations Center and Public Safety Building rehabilitation.

The delegation pressed three new priorities: modernization of the former Genesee County Community College building in Albion for the Probations Department, dredging support at Oak Orchard Harbor and funding for Marine Park dock repairs.

"Sometimes it takes years of asking before a funding pot is identified for a project," Fitzak said. "Our job is to keep it on the front burner until that happens."

The conference drew nearly 2,000 county officials and featured a Federal Agency Expo that connected county officials with representatives from nearly 50 federal program offices.